Winners Take All
Ratings30
Average rating3.9
was buying into the screed initially. however, over successive chapters, the same surface level conspiratorial ‘globalist cabal' analysis is repeated with limited consideration of the intricacies of power reproduction. then the punchline: capital d democracy will save us all
A beautiful book on elites and the darker side of philanthropy. It greatly widened my perspective.
Altered how I see change, progress, and the path forward. Though repetitive, that repetition is instructive in that it demonstrates how pervasive this “thought leadership” is among the elites and those who cater to them.
For better or worse, I see the world so much clearer today than I did when I started the book.
Well written and researched case studies of where we find ourselves in the evolution of capitalism. Research, that is not the topic of this book, indicates that somewhere around $70k is where people start to feel monetarily comfortable and start seeking intangible recognition for their work instead of monetary recognition. It seems that were at or nearing that kind of tipping point in the life of capitalism. Not that markets aren't important, but the idea that only high levels of philanthropy can help mitigate some of the qualms created by capitalism. Some countries have long known this, but in the US the system has been adamant to continue the experiment.
Giridharadas has astutely pointed out the flaws in this way of thinking. His analysis of the imagined opportunity costs supposedly felt by the wealthy philanthropists of the day outlines a growing sentiment sweeping the US.
Really interesting and important read. Gives a deep dive on power, money, and what it really means to be a philanthropist.
This is the book that started me down the path. We do not live in a meritocracy. We live in an oligarchy.
I disagree with soooo much in this book, but it is thought-provoking.
The mot aggravating part is, I think, the lack of a clear counter-proposal to the problems he sees. It's clearly implied, of course, but he doesn't elaborate.